Hey Everyone. First of all, a big shout out to all my new-found fans. I guess y'all aren't new, per se, but I just found out aboutcha. Apparently, people the world over are checking in on my beloved tow head... what an honor for me to tell you more and more about him.
Shaun and I went to Myrtle Beach this weekend to be a part of our friend Robyn's wedding. We had a great time; this mama got nails and hair and fed like a princess.. and got to see her Robs say her I dos. It was lovely.
Meanwhile, Ethan was hosting Nana and PawPaw for a party of his own. We really thought about taking him on the trip, but did count 9 occasions (mostly in airports and when we were out past 730) that we were ok with him not being there. That sounds coy... we were not ok with him not being there, but it wasn't in his best interest. He had lots to do here.
His favorites are still "hit ball", "bi-tickle", and wriggling in grass 'til he gets "itsy." He was glad to see us when we got home, and we're making the slow transition back into mother and father instead of partying wedding-goers.



Helpin' Paw-Paw put felt on the bottom of the kitchen chairs. The strangest things bother Nana...

Oooooh, Mama got cleaned up. Robyn's even cleaner!!!

see if you can translate Ethanese.... "tweeng batta batta tweeng!"


I have new-found enthusiasm as blogger now. Apparently, I am a glutton for praise. So, the nice things said this weekend will carry me for a while, but I'll need a new pick me up in a couple of weeks. Tootaloo! Mama

Chores chores chores. Ethan's list is starting to get bigger. Unload silverwear, feed the dog, put shoes in closet. He's perfect at all of those. He loves to vacuum... but only the garage. Weirdo. Papa came for a visit. Ethan hogged him for reading time. Ethan's new ride... he gets in there and says "whoooa woooooa whhhhooooooa!" I'm going to try to post another video. I hope it works.

I took this picture right after I told Ethan that we were going to try to take a nap at school without his paci. He was obviously worried, but took it like a man. He went to school, had a good day, and waited until he got home to turn on the big guns. He came in calmly, composed himself and said "mama, please paci, please" and walked away. There were no tears, no breakdown, just a plea for his favorite thing. And it worked, oh how it worked! We're back to naps and bedtime with paci. Oh well. I'll know what I'm up against next time. Shaun has taught Ethan how to hide... but only in two places. He hid in my shower for a good 5 minutes the other day while I was panicked... not outside, no doors open? i finally heard him tap dancing in the bathroom and ran in there to find him. He said "BOO mama!" and wanted to play again. Football season is in full bloom, Ethan has been trained to say "Gooooo Tigers!" at any SEC team icon. Ethan sees a Razorback and yells "Go TIgers!" He might get beat up here.. we'll watch him carefully. Nana and PawPaw have come on full storm, and he can, when prompted, call the Hogs. Nana calls this picture "Nature vs. Nurture" . Clever that Nana! This thing says I can post a video, so I'll post one. This is Baby Beluga...a Byrd family favorite. :) E

HAWHAT?? Shaun shaved his face off. Weird. I haven't seen his lips in four? years. I think he's kinda handsome.

Thanks for the Coors Light blow up chair Matt! Its just what we needed in the living room. It is now in Ethan's room... cause there was plenty of room in there?? We read books in it before bed. It is sticky, but waterproof...
Later... E

Hmmmm. We got a new computer, and I can't see the pictures I'm posting... which makes lining them up with witty reparte difficult. We jetted off to Vegas this weekend and left the squirt with Nana and PawPaw. He, fortunately I suppose, didn't even notice we were gone. Really. We came back after 3 nights away and he only briefly looked up from his T-ball game. He got to go see a football practice, and Nana and PawPaw did what grandparents are supposed to do. They all had a good time and so did we.
Ethan has become obsessed with the posessive tense. "E-tan's poon!"(Ethan's spoon), "Mama's shoe", and he just had to have "Da-ees dirt" when he got home today. Shaun still hasn't gotten it back.
I had no idea my hair was that rock-star blonde, but atleast it looks like Ethan is distantly related to me in some way. He's startin to look MORE AND MORE like his daddy. They're both my best accesories. I'm still strugglin' from our weekend in Vegas, so I'm off to bed early. Sorry no pictures... you know what they say! ;) E

The beach bums are back. Ethan was a champ in the car. He got to learn about oatmeal cream pies, and hotels... two new favorites. We drove and drove through rain then finally spent a lovely week (sans rain) on the beach. Ethan hated the sand the first day, then would let it get in his flip flops, then decided he was good to go with bare feet. He followed Eli around like an annoying shadow, but Eli was a good sport. Vacation with Nana and Pawpaw is about as good as it gets.

Eli did teach Ethan to play hide and seek, and Emily was around to remind Ethan that he wasn't the baby any longer. It was a good eye opener for what siblings are like. No, I am not pregnant. Again, if anyone mis-read... NOT PREGNANT. Don't start any rumors.
What else, what else. Ethan was the ONLY one to catch a fish from the beach. Shaun casted for 3 hours... Ethan cast only once. Shaun, Matt and Dad did go on a fishing excursion. Shaun and Matt caught some Snapper and Makrel, Dad caught the bubble-guts. Shaun said he was reduced to one-word sentences. Sorry dude.

I don't know why some of these pics are smaller than others.

We did have a nice restful week and enjoyed seeing Ethan enjoy himself.

Talk soon, E

Everything is better when you're under the table. You can find raisens under there, and hide from your mama.

Its also more fun to be in your block box, naturally... covered with all your balls, until you get clausterphobic and need "ous! ous!"

Jammin' out to Elmo before bedtime, evoking his disco spirit. This baby was born to dance.

We'll be internet free on the beach in route and on the beach, so I'll catch everyone up in two weeks. Yee haaaw!!!

Shhhhh! He's ball hunting. When he finds one he'll knock it under the couch so he can get his golf club to get it out. "hep hep cowsh!" That's Ethanese for "Dear God help me get that ball out from under there, hurry hurry!"

Everything is good here. We're on the countdown to the beach trip. He's learned to stick his head under at the pool, and loves loves loves! making laps around the baby pool. I hope he doesn't like the waves. Makes a mama nervy.

Current obsessions are Pop-Up Pirate "popeye-ya!", Play-doh "peedoh", and please please please don't say the word pool. 'Cause no matter what time it is, he'll go get his shark pants and is ready to go. Making playdoh blueberries can occupy a good part of his day... scoop 'em in the cup, pour em out.. pretend to eat them, put them back in, pour 'em out... etc.. etc.. etc..

Shaun got a pop-up playhouse for father's day. He was thrilled. You can even draw on the sides!! There are very few moments where girls are allowed in, and it has become a great reading hut.
We're enjoying our summer. I still get to have Fridays at home, which is very nice.

Talk soon... stay in the shade. E

I know! I know! Its been three weeks. I'm a busy woman. Yes, that is a different baby. That's my Audrey... and I got to go see her cause her mama turned the big 3-0. It was a fun time.

Ethan is a maniac. I tried to post his best pics. He loves his bobblehead. He carries him gingerly everywhere he goes. When we take the batteries out (yeah, he sings!) it devestates him... he's like a lab rat pushing the button... confused, hungry for song and dance... so we always give in and load him back up. Bobblehead is asleep in the linen closet right now. Shhhhhhhh!

Anything outdoors is OK with EMO. He loves the hose, makin puddles, stomping, etc.. He has adopted the frogs (they're plaster) out of the flowerbed (i don't know how I acquired them... not really my style...) alas, he loves them, kisses them, pets them, washes them. I'm not sure what's going on there.








We're learning some exciting new tricks. In order of frequency: 1. Time out 2. Poopin in the potty
For all you PETE members out there (get it, anyone??) time out is merely, oh, 15 seconds standing in the laundry room alcove. You'd think we ripped his eyeballs out. He has started self-imposing time out, complete with a fake cry and a high five after he tells me all the no-nos in the house (oven climbing, coffee-table standing, t.v. and or zoe hitting). I guess he's learning.
Now the poop... I"m not saying we're there yet or anything, but I will say that he has made some deposits in the appropriate recepticle. Nobody else cares about this as much as I do. We really do take the flush for granted. We do. We do.


Assumptions Ethan has made... Since ducks= water, water must = ducks. Any body of water, puddle, lake, rain. We do alot of quacking. Can't leave the house without a hat. CAN'T. LEAVE. WITHOUT. HAT.
The fridge holds food. Bananas are the greatest thing. Juiceboxes are for squirting. Kissy lips are halarious. If someone wants to hold your hand, dissolve into puddle on the floor. If your parents say hurry, run in place just to piss em off...

I'll try to post again sooner than last time. No apologies. Wife, Mother, Sister, Daughter, self-employed, works out regularly, 34 pounds lighter (!!!) Erin